Concentration in Jazz Studies

The Concentration in Jazz Studies is intended to help students interested in jazz to develop the skills necessary to be a marketable professional jazz and studio musician.

Students in the program will study jazz styles, history, improvisational techniques, arranging and composition, and have opportunities in a recording studio both performing and recording their own work.

Students also receive private lessons from professional jazz artists on their instrument. The regular requirements of the primary music degree are not affected; the jazz courses only apply to electives.

Any student completing a Music degree with the Jazz Studies concentration will be a highly diverse performer, having experience as a soloist, a member of a band or orchestra as well as with playing in large and small jazz ensembles. Graduates will possess the necessary skills to arrange and compose for jazz and studio ensembles, and will be prepared to work in almost every musical arena available today.

All of the jazz studies courses are taken in addition to all other requirements, fulfilling music elective requirements only.

This concentration is best suited with a Bachelor of Music or a Bachelor of Arts in Music, but a very hardworking Bachelor of Music Education student could receive it, although extra time may be necessary.